Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency epi is a syndrome caused by insufficient synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes by the exocrine portion of the pancreas.
Epi in dogs treatment.
The pancreas is an organ near the stomach and small intestine that produces enzymes needed for digestion as well as releasing hormones including insulin that regulate body homeostasis including blood sugar levels.
There is no cure for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency at this time.
Treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs while there is no cure for this condition there is help available to assist your pet to overcome this debilitating disease.
Epi interferes with your body s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Treatment often is administered on an outpatient basis and may include one or more of the following.
The goal of epi treatment is to replace the digestive function of the pancreas gardner says.
In fact even though complete recovery from epi is rare.
Epi is less common than pancreatitis in both dogs and cats but it is the second most common exocrine pancreatic disorder in both species.
You may need to take dietary supplements.
Other treatment considerations for animals with epi include additional dietary alterations and possible treatment of the main cause of pancreatic disease when diagnosed.
If your dog doesn t tolerate pork well there are also beef based or plant enzymes.
Porcine enzymes in a powder given with food are considered the best.
Epi is treated even in conventional medicine using pancreatic enzymes to compensate for your dog s own lacking enzyme production.
Dogs with epi generally feel well and are otherwise healthy.
Dogs and cats treated with the proper dose of the correct supplements can be given a good long term prognosis.
Dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are unable to digest nutrients in their diet properly resulting in maldigestion weight loss and abnormal feces usually pale and.
This can affect your intake of fat soluble vitamins a d e and k.
Animals with epi have extremely low concentrations of this enzyme in their serum.
The treatment of epi often includes the recommendation of an enzyme replacement.
However there is a treatment available which will allow your dog to return to a normal life.
Epi treatment pancreatic enzymes.
Treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs.
